Karst Landscape, Wulong

Karst Landscape, Wulong

(武隆喀斯特旅游区 wǔ lóng kā sī tè lǚyóu qū)

Situated in Southwest China's Chongqing municipality, Wulong Karst Tourism Area features spectacular landscapes and natural wonders. It was promoted as a national 5A-level travel destination in 2011 and has become a popular choice for movie directors, famously appearing in the Hollywood blockbuster, "Transformers: Age of Extinction."

Wulong Karst is a cluster of ancient creations, including gorges, caves, stone bridges, eroded dolines, and underground streams. These unique landform systems, including Furong (Lotus) Cave, Three Natural Bridges (Tiankeng), Xiannyu (Fairy) Mountain and Houping Giant Doline, recorded the uplifting movement of karst terrain since the Pleistocene glacial period and were inscribed by UNESCO in the World Natural Heritage List in 2007.

Three Natural Bridges, also known as "Tiankeng," consists of Tianglong, Qinglong and Heilong limestone bridges, all of which are named after loongs (mighty Chinese dragons). They added up to the longest underground cavern system in Asia and the largest doline cluster formed by erosion in the world.

Xiannyu Mountain is another must-see 5A-level resort in Wulong county. The mountain forest park occupies an area of 8,910 hectares and has an average elevation of 1,900 meters. It’s been dubbed as "Eastern Switzerland" for its combination of green mountain and snow-covered plain create a popular travel destination for sightseeing and snow sports. The area’s average temperature is 15 degrees Celsius lower than downtown Chongqing, making it a perfect gateway from the summer heat.

Scenic Spot Level: AAAAA

Address: Xiannyu town, Wulong county, Chongqing

Opening Hours: Furong (Lotus) Cave/9:00am-4:00pm, Three Natural Bridges (Tiankeng)/ 9:00am-4:00pm, Xiannyu (fairy) Mountain:/24 hours

Ticket Price: 115 yuan ($16.73) for Furong Cave, 95 yuan for Three Natural Bridges and 50 yuan for Xiannyu Mountain

Ideal Sightseeing Season: November to February, if your prefer a view of snow-capped Xiannyu Mountain

Website: http://www.wlkst.com/(Chinese)

Notes:

1. From downtown Chongqing, visitors can take a train from Chongqingbei Railway Station to the Tourist Service Center in Xiannyu town, Wulong county.

2. Visitors can enjoy the local life and folklore performances of Tujia, Miao and other ethnic groups living in the area.